In 1851 birth/baptism records I found a phrase that doesn't make sense as I translate it and hope someone has run across it and knows what it means. In the box for the father's name was written "il retroferitto Domenico", for the mother's name was written "la retroferitta Manfredi" (no first name), and in the box that usually contains the godparents' names was written "i retroferitti". The closest I can come to a meaning is "the previously wounded/injured". I've looked at many, many records for this church and have never seen this before. Any ideas? Grazie mille.

I think the correct word could be "retroscritto" (or "retroscritti") that means "written in the previous page" (literally: retro= dietro= rear). Otherwise it could be "retroriferito" (with the same meaning). If you post the image i can give you a confirm (or not, obviously).

Bravo, Luca! Retroriferito makes much more sense although that was not how it was spelled in the record. However, in the 1800s, too many words and names were spelled as they may have sounded to the person writing the record. Unfortunately, I no longer have access to the records at this time but I will say that the record was at the top of the page and may well have referenced a record on the previous page. Grazie mille, mille per la sua aiuta. Buon Natale....

Buon Natale anche a lei I think that the word is "retroscritto" (it was often used, while retroriferito was not common): in the past the "s" could be written in a way quite different from the actual form. Look at this pic:

The third word in the first line is Franciscus, and the same in the third line the words mensis Aprilis and so on.

Si, davvero! I wrote feritto and imagined that the f was an s and the e was a c, and it certainly could have been. Certo. You have solved the mystery, you clever fellow. Grazie altra volta, carino.
Connie

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